Can My Teeth Shift After Invisalign Treatment?

Invisalign®, first brought to market by Align Technology in 2000, has become a new standard for the treatment of mild to moderate dental issues that require orthodontia. 

These clear aligners are practically invisible, offering patients an alternative to the “metal mouth” so common in the past. They can also do their job moving teeth into alignment over a much shorter period than the typical wire-and-brackets variety.

At Manteca Dental Care in Manteca, California, Dr. Rick Van Tran and our team use Invisalign to help straighten and align your teeth. Many people want to know if their teeth can shift again once treatment stops. Keep reading to learn the answer.

Can teeth shift after orthodontic treatment?

Traditional braces or Invisalign aligners keep your teeth firmly fixed in their new positions, but when they’re removed, there’s nothing preventing your teeth from moving again. That’s the purpose of a retainer; it ensures that all the time you spent having your teeth straightened wasn’t for naught.

Even after braces shift and straighten your teeth, those teeth aren’t completely firm in their new positions. Permanent placement doesn’t happen until your gums, bones, and muscles acclimate to the change. 

Unfortunately, everyday habits like chewing and grinding apply their own forces to your teeth and can move them out of their new positions. This can potentially lead to malocclusion, where your upper and lower teeth don’t align when your mouth is closed.

The solution to the problem is a retainer, a metal or plastic appliance whose job is to help your teeth retain their new positions. Retainers can be either fixed (permanent) or removable.

Invisalign retainers

When you’ve gone with Invisalign to straighten your teeth, the best option for a retainer is the Vivera® retainer. It’s manufactured by the same team that makes the Invisalign aligners, so you can expect the same invisibility of the hardware, as well as a comfortable, custom fit.

According to the manufacturer, Vivera retainers are 30% stronger and twice as durable as other clear retainers on the market, and they usually come in packs of multiple sets, giving you a longer lifespan for your device, fewer replacements, and greater value.

You can expect to wear your clear retainer for life, which protects the time and financial investment you made when you committed to Invisalign treatment. In some cases, though, your dentist may determine you don’t require a retainer, so be sure to discuss this up 

front when you’re considering orthodontic work.

If you’d like to learn more about Invisalign and Vivera and how they can help you achieve and keep the smile of your dreams, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Tran. Give us a call at 209-823-9218 or book online today.